12 August 1862

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: [Presidential authority to the Secretary of State to affix the seal to pardon of George Creager alias George Williams].

GLC02660

February 2, 1864

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: [Authorization to affix the seal of the United States to the envelope of a letter addressed to Kamehameha V, King of the Hawaiian Islands]

Partially printed document directs the Secretary of State to affix the seal of the United States to a condolence letter addressed to Kamehameha V for the death of King Kamehameha IV, his brother. Kamehameha IV had sought closer ties with the United States. Kamehameha V was the last of the direct line of Hawaiian Kings, following his death the kingship became elective.

GLC02661

5 November 1864

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: Pardon of Miller A. Wright (c/s Seward)?

Pardoned for "serving as a Colonel in the Army of the so-called Confederate States of America."

GLC02691.03

14 April 1862

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: [Presidential authority to to the Secretary of State to to affix the seal of the United States to the pardon of Auguste Heisler].

GLC02694

26 June 1857

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Pamphlet

Title: Speech of the Hon. Abram Lincoln, in reply to Judge Douglas.

Speech on the subjects of Kansas, the Dred Scott decision, and Utah. Delivered in Representatives' Hall, Springfield, Illinois, June 26th, 1857.

GLC02954

17 July 1858

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Pamphlet

Title: Speech of Hon. Abraham Lincoln, delivered in Springfield, Saturday evening, July 17, 1858.

Discusses the disadvantages faced by the Republican Party in the upcoming election. Traces the development of his attitudes toward slavery and equality, expressing his conviction that the South's reliance on slavery was engaged in a conspiracy to nationalize slavery and strip White people as well as Black people of their civil rights. States that the Kansas-Nebraska bill was the beginning of this. Urges that slavery be placed on the course of "ultimate extinction." Attacks Stephen Douglas and defends himself by stating that he supports the principles of equality put forth in the Declaration…

GLC02955

1858

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Pamphlet

Title: Facts for the people

Contains the following documents: "Speech of Hon. Abraham Lincoln, delivered in Springfield, Saturday evening, July 17, 1858;" "Great Speech of Senator Trumbull, on the Issues of the Day, Delivered in Chicago, Saturday, August 7, 1858;" "Douglas' Chicago Speech vs. his Freeport Speech: Dred Scott Swallowed in Chicago and Thrown Up in Freeport-What the Supreme Court Says-What President Buchanan Says-The Little Dodger Cornered and Caught;" "What the Southern Papers Say: The Louisville Journal on Douglas and Lincoln-Opinion of the Home Organ of Henry Clay;" "The Political Record of Stephen A.…

GLC02956

24 December 1863

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph endorsement signed

Title: [Regarding African American troops in Missouri]

President Lincoln states that commissioners are "to appraise negroes in Missouri." Mentions that he was previously unaware of General Order No. 135 issued in mid-November 1863 by General John McAllister Schofield, in command of the Department of Missouri. That order had authorized the enlistment of enslaved people, without consent of their owners, and with compensation promised to loyalist slaveholders.

GLC03096

9 October 1861

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Quincy A. Gilmore

On a small card, President Lincoln writes to Captain Gilmore, the chief engineer on the Port Royal Expedition to South Carolina, regarding General Thomas W. Sherman's attack on Port Royal: "I feel great interest in Gen. Sherman's expedition; and therefore prefer to not interfere with the programme." Accompanied by a carte de visite of Lincoln (GLC02798.02).

GLC02798.01

15 June 1864

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph endorsement signed

Title: [Lincoln endorsement for release of Union prisoner of war]

Written on verso of a 28 April 1864 autograph letter signed from Missouri Representative Austin King. King seeks release for E. M. Brashear of Lafayette County, Missouri. Writes " While I know but little of this youth, I know his relations to be among the most respectable of my district. … I ask of you Mr President the discharge of Brashear, and I have such confidence in his sense of honor, and of the same in his relatives & friends who wish his discharge, that I feel that I risk nothing in vouching for his future fidelity to the Government." Lincoln orders that this man be allowed to…

GLC02805

1860

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Pamphlet

Title: Speech... delivered at the Cooper Institute, New York (Tribune Tracts no. 4)

1860 election campaign tract, Tribune Tracts #4, first edition. This pamphlet is the first printing of Lincoln's Cooper Institute speech made in New York the same year. Monaghan 30.

GLC02812

26 June 1857

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Broadsheet

Title: Speech of Hon. Abram Lincoln, in reply to Judge Douglas

Delivered in Representatives' Hall, Springfield, Illinois. Replies to Judge Stephen Douglas's speech two weeks earlier on the subject of Kansas, the Dred Scott decision, and Utah. Douglas had spoken in favor of the Dred Scott decision and Lincoln's response maintains that the decision was erroneous. This address would provide the logic (and language) Lincoln used again in many of the arguments in his famous "House Divided" speech a year later. Pages are uncut.

GLC02813

31 March 1864

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Todd Lincoln

Addresses his wife as "Dear Mother." Sends a draft for $50 and states that any merchant in New York will give her money for it. Written on Executive Mansion stationery.

GLC02793.034

27 September 1861

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: [Presidential pardon of John W. Demaine, who had been convicted in the District of Columbia of larceny in August 1856].

Demaine was pardoned near the end of his term because he was young and inexperienced at the time of the commission of the crime and under the influence of older persons and because the jurors who had rendered the verdict against him were recommending it, as well as a number of highly respected citizens. Signed by Abraham Lincoln. Countersigned by Secretary of State William H. Seward.

GLC02777

8 June 1861

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: [Presidential pardon of Benjamin Wood, who had been convicted in December 1857 in the District of Columbia of manslaughter].

Wood was pardoned by Lincoln because it is believed that he was insane at the time of the offense, because it was his first offense, and because the jurors at his trial and others had petitioned for his release. Countersigned by Secretary of State William Seward.

GLC02789

17 December 1864

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: Pardon of David Everett

Countersigned by Secretary of State William H. Seward. Twelve year old Everett was convicted of stealing a letter from the post office and pardoned by Lincoln due to extreme youth and good conduct.

GLC03437

22 July 1849

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Berdan

Relates that he recently received a letter from the Clerk to the General Land Office John Addison indicating that their commissioner Justin Butterfield considers Berdan eligible to gain an appointment to the Office. States that if Berdan indeed desires such an appointment, their friendship could either "help or hurt" him, depending on Butterfield's views of Lincoln. Offers his assistance to Berdan in obtaining an appointment to the Land Office. Free frank by Lincoln.

GLC03190

20 February 1864

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: Authority to affix the seal to pardon of James Ackerman

A warrant for his pardon was dated and signed by Lincoln in 1864.

GLC03200

22 July 1849

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Addison

Hopes that his writing on the "other half of the sheet" (not present) referred to is useful to Addison, Clerk of the General Land Office. Asks Addison to give Lucas (possibly Josiah Lucas, another clerk of the Land Office) his respects. Comments that he is glad Lucas has reached an understanding with the new commissioner, Justin Butterfield, who was appointed to the post instead of Lincoln. Asks if letters in his favor were sent to the Department and expresses that he would like to see them. Plans to notify James Berdan of "the matter of which [Addison speaks] concerning him," possibly an…

GLC03189

16 March 1863

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: [Promotion of James B. McPherson to Major General of Volunteers]

Official document promoting McPherson to Major General of Volunteers beginning October 8, 1862, signed by President Lincoln and countersigned by Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. Partially printed from an engraving, with blanks filled in by hand. Features two detailed patriotic scenes and a blue paper seal from the War Office. Docketed at top by Adjutant General L. Thomas on March 16, 1863.

GLC03327

27 December 1862

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: [Presidential pardon of William Fugitt, who in the District of Columbia had been convicted of horse stealing in July 1860].

Pardoned by Abraham Lincoln near the end of his sentence since he was a youth of 17 years at the time of his conviction, he was believed to be a tool of older criminals, and at the petition of citizens. Countersigned by Secretary of State William H. Seward.

GLC03328

[ 06 December 1864 ]

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph manuscript

Title: Speech fragment of annual address to Congress re: reconstruction in Louisiana

One page from his State of the Union address, printed in full, Basler 8: 136-153. This fragment, mentioning reconstruction of Louisiana and Arkansas, appears on p. 148. Written in larger than normal handwriting to help Lincoln read it. With John D. Defrees autograph endorsement (docket) on verso certifying its authenticity. GLC 5805 is the following page.

GLC03252

1857-1858 ca.

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph manuscript

Title: Speech fragment on slavery and American government

Probably part of a speech, beginning in the middle of a word. Lincoln emphasizes how America's affirmation of natural rights has made the nation into a wiser, stronger, happier and more progressive country.

GLC03251

5 July 1864

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: [Authorization to affix the seal of the United States to Lincoln's proclamation]

Partially printed document authorizes the Secretary of State to affix the seal to Lincoln's proclamation suspending the privilege of habeas corpus and establishing martial law in Kentucky. The proclamation is not present but states in part, " ... Whereas many citizens of the State of Kentucky have joined the forces of the insurgents ... have overborne the civil authorities and made flagrant civil war ... I, Abraham Lincoln ... do therefore hereby require of the military officers in the said state that the privileges of the writ of habeas corpus be effectually suspended within the said State…

GLC03493

21 March 1865

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: [Promotion of Henry Eugene Davies to Major General]

Official document promoting Davies, signed by President Lincoln and countersigned by Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. Partially printed from an engraving, with blanks filled in by hand. Features two detailed patriotic scenes and a blue paper seal from the War Office. Docketed at top by Assistant Adjutant General E. D. Townsend on March 22, 1865.

GLC03113